Russia may be having major difficulties in Ukraine, but it remains a vast power in the north and the Arctic, where climate change is opening new sea routes for trade and trouble.
Parliamentary elections on Sunday are extremely tight among the three biggest parties, with the prime minister’s Social Democrats in a tough fight to lead the next government.
With a difficult election coming in May, the Turkish president keeps insisting that Sweden is harboring alleged Kurdish terrorists and other dissidents.
The Nordic partners wanted to join together, but with Turkey holding up Sweden’s application, Helsinki will reluctantly enter alone to ensure its security.